CHAPTER 296
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 502
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 17, TITLE 7, DELAWARE CODE, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR HARM INFLICTED ON THE DOGS OWNED BY LAN ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, TO INCLUDE ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT, AND DOGS PRIVATELY OWNED AND USED TO ASSIST THE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND THE HANDICAPPED.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each House thereof concurring therein):
Section 1. Amend Chapter 17, Title 7, Delaware Code by adding thereto a new section to be designated as Section 1717 to read as follows:
11717. Unlawful Harm to Law Enforcement Dogs; Seeing_ Eye Dolls,_ Diggs Used by Correctional Officials; Penalty's Jurisdiction
(a) whoever willfully tortures, poisions, beats, kicks, strikes, mutilates, Injures, disables or otherwise mistreats, a dog owned by a law enforcement agency of this state, to include any political subdivisions thereof, or whoever, does like harm to any dog owned privately used to assist the blind or the visually impaired or the handicap shall be fined not less than $50, for each offense, nor more than 5100.
(a) Justices of the Peace shall have jurisdiction of violations of this section."
Approved June 30, 1988.